Curlin has signaled “all systemss go” after working at Santa Anita, and will defend his title in this years Breeders Cup Classic. This will inject much needed interest in what is shaping up to be one of the worst Breeders Cup’s in the history of the event.  I liked Curlin in last years event, but I don’t know if he is going to win this time around.

This will be Curlin’s first race on a synthetic surface, but he has been better the second time he does something in the past. He will also have a lack of pace to worry about with the defection of Big Brown.  Something tells me Big Brown’s exit may cause Well Armed and Mast Track to reconsider the Classic. If one or both of them decides to run that should eliminate the pace worries. Curlin is undoubtedly the horse to beat, but I don’t think it will be an easy race for him.

In between studying for exams and trying to earn a few dollars, I also read that Garrett Gomez will get the mount on Midshipman. I’m sure Midshipman’s regular rider, Tyler Baze, isn’t the least bit happy about this. Baze has won and finished second in a Grade 1 in three races with the colt. Trainer Bob Baffert stated that he wants a jockey he has had success with in the Breeders Cup. Baze has been as good as any jockey this year, and I must object with the switch. I think it would be quite funny if Tyler beat Midshipman with another horse.

Better Talk Now looks to be in mint condition for his fifth Breeders Cup start. The winner of the 2004 Breeders Cup Turf is winless this year, but has been very good. He was hit with some bad racing luck in the Grade 1 Manhatten this year, having to check hard in the stretch as he was making a winning move. Trainer Graham Motion says the 9-year-old gelding is working better than ever. If Better Talk Now can make it to this years Breeders Cup he will tie Kona Gold and Perfect Drift for the highest amount of Breeders Cup starts at five. He will be my sentimental pick to win the Turf.

I’ve got a Classical Civilizations exam in a couple of hours, and I still need to do a small amount of studying. Before I go, I want to tell you about a Breeders Cup Pick All contest that the NTRA will be hosting. The Grand Prize will be an entry to the $1 million DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Contest. Click here to check it out!

Horse racing saw a devastating loss today as Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown has been retired to stud after injuring himself in a workout. The work came in company against last years Breeders Cup Mile winner, Kip Deville. The injury was to the right front hoof, where he grabbed a quarter. I’m not quite sure what that means, but from what I read a large portion of the hoof was lost.

This news comes at a time when racing desperately needed the showdown between Big Brown and Curlin. The way things are going the race will now probably be a cakewalk for Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year. While I am far from a training expert, and if I am wrong please correct me, but was it really wise to continually work Big Brown in company? The final time was 1:12 4/5 for six on the turf. Maybe they should’ve taken a page out of Curlin’s book and worked a bit slower.

This of course brings us to the sobering realization that we will never see these two heavyweights, Big Brown and Curlin, on the same track. I think I am probably one of the most disappointed fans out there. I was the first person on the internet to speculate a Big Brown vs. Curlin match up, doing so the day after Big Brown’s win in the Florida Derby.  I don’t know when two truly great horses will rise again at the same time as these two have, but one thing is for sure. It will happen. Perhaps one day we will watch the progeny of these two great horses square off in the Breeders Cup Classic.

Click here for more information on Big Brown’s injury and subsequent retirement.

Horse Racing as an industry took large strides to put an end to horse slaughter this week. Magna Entertainment Corporation, which owns several tracks released a statement this week which said: “Any trainer or owner stabling at an MEC facility who directly or indirectly participates in the transport of a horse from an MEC facility to either a slaughterhouse or an auction house engaged in selling horses for slaughter will be prohibited from having stalls at any MEC facility. The policy also applies to any actions related to the transport of a horse from an MEC facility where the ultimate intended result is the horse’s slaughter”.

Magna owns track such as Santa Anita Park, which will host the Breeders Cup this year. They also own the home of the Preakness Stakes, Pimlico Race Course. Other tracks they own include Thistledown, The Meadows, Laurel Park, Lone Star Park, and Remington Park. This was a great decision by a company which usually makes bad ones, but I wont go into that. Good for you Magna, you did the right thing.

Their policy followed one by Suffolk earlier this year. Nick Zito, a strong anti-slaughter proponent rewarded them by sending his stable star, Commentator, to their feature race the Massachusetts Handicap. Commentator put on a show winning by about 14 lengths. He is a great example at the age of 7 how taking care of your horses, and not over racing them can pay dividends.

I’m happy that the industry is finally stepping up to the plate. If we can continue to refine and make progress the future of thoroughbred racing is headed in a better and more beneficial direction. I’ll close with an email I received from Hall Of Fame jockey Gary Steven’s website.
“Sept. 23, 2008

Dear Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Smith:

WE, the undersigned, are co-signors of this letter and support legislation to stop the slaughter of American horses.
John H. Adger, racing and bloodstock manager, Stonerside Stable, Houston, TX;
Peggy Augustus, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Keswick Stables, Keswick, VA;
Betty and Gary Biszantz, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Cobra Farm, Lexington, KY and Solana Beach, CA;
Nadia Sanan Briggs, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Padua Stables, Ocala, FL;
Anne and Cot Campbell, Thoroughbred owners, Dogwood Stable, Aiken, SC;
Pat Chapman, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Someday Farm, Doylestown, PA;
Jenny Craig, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Rancho Paseana, Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
Carol Farmer, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Shadowlawn Farm, Midway, KY;
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ford, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Diamond A Farms, Versailles, KY;
Maegan Ford, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Diamond A Farms, Versailles, KY;
Staci and Arthur Hancock, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stone Farm, Paris, KY;
Mark Hennig, Thoroughbred owner and trainer, Garden City, NY;
Sara Jones Hill, Thoroughbred owner, Coconut Grove, FL;
Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Lael Farm, West Grove, PA;
Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stonestreet Farm, Lexington, KY;
Jackson W. Knowlton, Thoroughbred owner, managing partner, Sackatoga Stable, Saratoga Springs, NY;
Julie Krone, Racing Hall of Fame jockey, Los Angeles, CA;
Janice and Robert McNair, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stonerside Stables, Houston, TX;
Ellen Moelis and Herbert I Moelis, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Candyland Farm, Middletown, DE;
Maggi Moss, Thoroughbred owner, Moss Equestrians, Des Moines, Iowa;
Joanne and Paul Oreffice, Thoroughbred owners, Dogwood Stables, Paradise Valley, AZ;
Debby and John Oxley, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Fawn Leap Farm, Midway, KY;
Madeleine Paulson Pickens, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
Dan Rosenberg, Rosenberg Thoroughbred Consulting,, Midway, KY;
James D. Squires, Two Bucks Farm, Versailles, KY;
Angie Athayde-Stevens, Thoroughbred consultant, Los Angeles, CA;
Gary Stevens, Racing Hall of Fame jockey; Los Angeles, CA;
Deborah W. Tatham and Thomas P. Tatham, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Oak Cliff Breeders, Houston, TX;
Melanie and Jeffrey Tucker, Stone Bridge Farm, Schuylerville, NY;
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Lexington, KY and Saratoga Springs, NY;
Kim and Nick Zito, Thoroughbred owner and trainer, Lexington, KY and Saratoga Springs, NY.”

The judiciary committe of the United States House of Representives passed legislation banning the transport of horses for the purpose of slaugther on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after this letter was recieved.

I was sad to read that my favorite filly, Dreaming of Anna will no longer be racing. The champion daughter of Rahy will become at broodmare at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky. Owner Frank Calabrese says he doesn’t yet know who she will bred to. Personally, I would suggest Big Brown. He will be at the same farm, so why not? The other sires I like for her at Three Chimneys are Sky Mesa and Smarty Jones. I believe all three of the aforementioned sires are capable of producing foals who are equally adept on dirt or turf, as Anna was.

The first time I got to see Dreaming of Anna race live was in the 2006 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs. She won with ease, capping her undefeated two-year-old season and securing the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old filly. I began avidly following her career after that race. She also beat males that year, in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes.

Things didn’t go as well for her as a three-year-old. Although she would take a backseat behind Rags To Riches, she remained a force at the top of the division. Her wins as a three-year-old included the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes, and Virginia Oaks. Perhaps her best performance as a three-year-old was a second place finish in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

In 2008 she proved she could still run as an older filly. At the age of four, she was victorious in the Grade 3 Hillsborough and Endeavor Stakes. Her last two races were probably just hiccups, but she doesn’t have anything else to prove so that is probably why the connections decided to retire her. Dreaming Of Anna had several jockeys throughout her career. I always hated it when someone would try to rate her, because I believe she is at her best on the lead.

Dreaming of Anna is a full sister to Lewis Michael who won the Grade 1 Pat O’Brien Handicap this year. He is being pointed to the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, after which he will also be sent to Three Chimneys Farm. Anna’s earned $2,024,550 in purses throughout her magnificent career. I’m sad to see go, but at the same time I look forward to watching her foals race. These two years wont pass fast enough!